Closing device for rail gaps in the deflecting and frog areas

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a closing device for rail gaps in the deflecting area and in the frog area comprising mounting plate means, longitudinally displaceable bed plate means on said mounting plate means, slide chair means on said bed plate means for pivoting the rail end of the switch entrance, beveled closing means adapted to close the gap between said pivotal rail end and two rigid connecting rail ends, and carrier plate means for a twin expansion joint rigidly positioned with respect to said mounting plate means.

United States Patent [1 1 Dohse [451 Sept. 4, 1973 1 1 CLOSING DEVICE FOR RAIL GAPS IN THE DEFLECTING AND FROG AREAS [75] Inventor: Ruthard Dohse, Essen-Bredeney,

Germany [73] Assignee: Elektro-Therrnit G.m.b.11., Berlin,

Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 204,495

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 4, 1970 Gennany P 20 59 666.1

[52] US. Cl 246/468, 246/381, 246/382 [51] Int. Cl E0lb 7/14 [58] Field of Search 246/472, 454, 458,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,313,441 8/1919 White 246/385 1/1964 Vissat ..246/468 10/1972 Ejeling ..246/468 Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant ExaminerRichard A. Bertsch AttorneyJames E. Bryan [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a closing device for rail gaps in the deflecting area and in the frog area comprising mounting plate means, longitudinally displaceable bed plate means on said mounting plate means, slide chair means on said bed plate means for pivoting the rail end of the switch entrance, beveled closing means adapted to close the gap between said pivotal rail end and two rigid connecting rail ends, and carrier plate means for a twin expansion joint rigidly positioned with respect to said mounting plate means.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUSEP 41m -SHEU10F 4 INVENTOR RUTHARD DOHSE TORNEY Pmmlin w sum 2 or 4 RUTHARD DOHSE 5. fig, ATT NEY .PAIENIED SEP 4873 INVE NTOR RUTHARD DOHSE sum aura IIII III/III] Z. /%au- 01M, AT ORNEY INVE NTOR RUTHARD DOHSE A QR NEY saw u or 4 ow mm N 2 Fl v N II: N w a PATENIED CLOSING DEVICE FOR RAIL GAPS IN THE DEFLECTING AND FROG AREAS The present invention relates to a closing device for rail gaps within the deflecting and frog areas.

In switches which are intended to he traveled upon or negotiated at high Speeds and with great axle loads, the deflection of the vehicle is effeced within the deflecting zone or range, and the route to be traveled is established in the frog area by pivoting in the rail ends of the switch entrance and/ or of the connecting and intermediate rails. The gaps which are formed between the pivotal rail ends and the rigid rail ends lead at high speeds to an uneven running of the vehicle and give rise to high maintenance costs. Since the pivotal rail ends are very long for switches which are to be negotiated at high speeds, temperature variations produce a shortening and/or lengthening of the pivotal rail ends, and therewith a widening or narrowing of the gaps between the pivotal rail ends and the rigid rail ends.

It is the object of the present invention to close the gap between the rigid and the pivotal rail ends in a manner such that continuous running or inner edges will be formed and the influence of temperature variations upon the width of the gap is eliminated.

This object is attained, in accordance with the present invention, by virtue of the fact that the rail end of the switch entrance is pivotal in the transverse direction by means of slide chairs on a ground or bed plate, being diSplaceable in the longitudinal directlon on a mounting plate, and that the two connecting rail ends are immovably positioned. The gap that exists, in accordance with the end position of the pivotal rail end of the switch entrance, between the latter and the two rigid connecting rail ends is adapted to be closed by means of a tapered closing piece. Moreover, the supporting plate of the successive twin expansion joint is rigidly connected directly with the mounting plate and- /or indirectly by way of the track carrier.

in order to absorb temperature variations, the ground or bed plate is displaceably positioned on the mounting plate so that the ground or bed Plate is adapted to become horizontally displaced in the longitudinal direction due to the influence of temperature. The change in length of the rails is passed in this manner through the area of the closing device without resulting in a change of the gap width, and is compensated for by a successive twin expansion joint. Any lifting of the ground or bed plate off of the mounting plate as a result of the action of force is effectively prevented with the aid of guide pieces.

The changes in length of the pivotal rail ends of the main rail or track due to temPerature influences and the forces arising at that time are passed into the ground or bed plate by way of the dovetail-like guides in the pivotal rail ends and the correspondingly provided shape of the slide chairs. In order to avoid friction between the rail ends of the switch entrance and the slide chairs, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the gliding or friction surfaces of the rail end of the switch entrance and/or of the slide chairs have friction-reducing gliding layers, preferably made of perfluoroethylene, perferably in the area or zone of the dovetail-like guides. In another possible embodiment according to the present invention, roller bearings are positioned between the gliding surfaces of the rail end of the switch entrance and the dovetailed guides.

In order to achieve an improvement of the locking of the pivotal rail ends of the switch entrance within the gap area, the side facing the beveled side of the pivotal rail ends is suitably provided with reinforcements.

The advantages that are afforded by the present invention consist particularly in that the gaps between the pivotal and the rigld rai ends are effectively closed and continuous running or inner edges are thus produced which render possible a virtually vibration-free ovenrunning of the wheel. Any arising changes in length of the rails ahead of or behind the gap area are passed therethrough without producing a change in the gap width, and are absorbed by the successive twin expansion joint.

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGS. 1 and 2 are a side view and, respectively, a top plan view of the closing device at low temperatures;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a side view and, respectively, a top plan view of the closing device at elevated outside temperatures;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 identifies the mounting plate of the switch entrance, and reference numeral 10 identifies the carrier plate of the twin expansion joint. Both are secured to the rail or track carrier 11. The ground or bed plate 2, being displaceable in the longitudinal direction, is positioned on the mounting plate 1; it is held in the vertical direction by way of the guide pieces 12 and 13. The rail end 3 of the switch entrance is beveled in the forward area thereof and rests on the slide chairs 6, 7 and 8. The ends of the connecting rails 4 and 5 are rigidly secured to the ground or bed plate 2. The gap between the rail end 3 of the switch entrance and the rigid rai 5 of the connecting rails is closed by means of a displaceable wedge 9. In order to assure the locking effect of the pivotal rail end 3 of the switch entrance in the respective end position, the rail end 3 of the switch entrance has a reinforcement 16 at the side facing or opposite to the beveled side.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the closing device in the condition thereof which arises at higher temperatures. It is apparent therefrom that the ground or bed plate 2 is displaced on the mounting plate 1 in the direction toward the carrier plate I0 of the twin expansion joints FIG. 5 illustrates the positioning of the ground or bed plate 2 on the mounting plate 1. The bed plate 2 is held by the guide rails 12 and 13 while allowing for the horizontal movability thereof.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B. The rail end of the switch entrance has the recesses l4 and 15 into which are fitted correspondingly shaped dovetail-like slide chairs. These slide chairs have been identified with reference numerals 6 and 7. The slide chairs are in turn secured to the ground or bed plate 2. When the rail 3 is heated, it expands. This expansion has the result that the slide chairs 6 and 7 and therewith the ground or bed plate 2 are displaced in the longitudinal rail direction. When the switch is actuated, the rail end 3 is moved at a right angle to the section line B-Be In order to reduce the friction, the

limiting surfaces 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 may be coated with friction-reducing gliding layers, preferably perfluoroethylene layers. It is also possible to provide for corresponding roller bearings, or to apply gliding layers from specific antifriction metal substances which require very little maintenance and have dry operation properties.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

What is claimed is:

l. A closing device for rail gaps in the deflecting area and in the frog area comprising mounting plate means, longitudinally displaceable bed pate means on said mounting plate means, slide chair means on said bed plate means for pivoting the rail cnd of the switch entrance, beveled closing means adapted to close the gap between said pivotal rail end and two rigid connecting rail ends, and carrier plate meane For a twin expansion joint ridigly positioned with respect to said mounting plate means.

2. A closing device according to claim l, in which said carrier plate means is connected indirectly to said mounting plate means by way of track carrier means.

3. A closing device according to claim 1 in which said bed plate means is displaceably secured on the mounting plate means by guide elements.

4. A closing device according to claim 1 in which said slide chair means include dovetail guide means thereon.

5. A closing device according to claim 1 in which gliding surfaces of said pivotal rail end and of said slide chalr means have friction-reducing surfaces thereon.

6. A closing device according to claim 5 in which said friction-reducing surfaces are perfluoroethylene.

7. A closing device according to claim 1 including reinforcement means on the side of the pivotal rail end opposite the beveled side thereof. 

1. A closing device for rail gaps in the deflecting area and in the frog area comprising mounting plate means, longitudinally displaceable bed p ate means on said mounting plate means, slide chair means on said bed plate means for pivoting the rail cnd of the switch entrance, beveled closing means adapted to close the gap between said pivotal rail end and two rigid connecting rail ends, and carrier plate meane For a twin expansion joint ridigly positioned with respect to said mounting plate means.
 2. A closing device according to claim 1, in which said carrier plate means is connected indirectly to said mounting plate means by way of track carrier means.
 3. A closing device according to claim 1 in which said bed plate means is displaceably secured on the mounting plate means by guide elements.
 4. A closing device according to claim 1 in which said slide chair means include dovetail guide means thereon.
 5. A closing device according to claim 1 in which gliding surfaces of said pivotal rail end and of said slide chaIr means have friction-reducing surfaces thereon.
 6. A closing device according to claim 5 in which said friction-reducing surfaces are perfluoroethylene.
 7. A closing device according to claim 1 including reinforcement means on the side of the pivotal rail end opposite the beveled side thereof. 